Nutrition

Nutrition
Probiotics

What Are They?
Our bodies are filled with hundreds of different types of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are bad and others, like
probiotics, are good. Probiotics,
meaning “pro-life”, promote a healthy digestive system and help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria. With over 400 different types of probiotics, it is important to remember that each good bacteria has a specific benefit for our bodies.

Benefits
As mentioned, probiotics help to
promote a healthy digestive system. A healthy digestive system has been shown to have various benefits on other systems in our body. In particular, our immune system is boosted which helps protect against infection and assist in the
management of inflammation.
Reduction in cholesterol, decrease in the risk of certain cancers and an
increase in urinary and genital health have also been shown as benefits of
probiotics.

Sources
Dairy products are one of the primary sources of probiotics, for example
yogurt, fluid milk with added
probiotics, fermented milk and kefir. While probiotics supplements are available, be cautious as they are not regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration.